Highly efficient and selective photocatalytic reduction of nitroarenes using the Ni2P/CdS catalyst under visible-light irradiation

Abstract

A highly efficient and selective heterogeneous photocatalytic system for nitro reduction to amino organics was established using CdS, Ni₂P and Na₂S/Na₂SO₃ as a photosensitizer, a cocatalyst and a sacrificial electron donor in aqueous solution, respectively. Two competing pathways for photocatalytic H₂ production and nitro reduction were found. Also, the reduction of nitroarenes to aniline was confirmed to proceed through both the direct and condensation routes.